The Wadsworth Lady Grizzlies are on their way to the Elite 8 in the Girls Division One State Basketball Tournament. Junior Jodi Johnson drained a three-pointer with 51 seconds remaining in overtime to break a 37-all tie.
The bucket led the Grizzlies to a 44-39 win over the 11th ranked Bears.
Wadsworth will play for a regional title and a trip to Columbus against a familiar foe: Toledo Notre Dame Academy. Game time is set for 1 p.m. at Norwalk High School.
The game was a physical, defensive struggle throughout. After a free throw by Alison Smolinski tied the score at 37 with a minute to go in OT, the Lady Grizzlies went to work. After Wadsworth set a number of screens, Johnson found herself all alone behind the arc and the All-Ohio player took the shot and found the bottom of the net.
The Lady Grizzlies wrapped up the game by hitting four-of-four from the free throw line on either side of a North Royalton basket to put the game in the victory column.
Johnson led Wadsworth in scoring with 13 points. Senior Aubrey Virgin added 10, including a huge three-pointer with 2:46 to go in regulation to tie the game at 36. Gabby White led North Royalton with 20. Smolinski, a Div. I recruit at Youngstown State, was held to just the one point. Wadsworth’s record is 23-3. North Royalton ended their season at 25-2.
Toledo Notre Dame Academy and Wadsworth have met in the last three regional finals. Toledo has won every game. Virgin said this time, Wadsworth plans to take home the “W.”
Tickets are available at the Wadsworth Athletic Office from 7:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. Tickets are $7 in advance or $8 at the door.
